Extreme surfers take on giant 65ft waves in Portugal

Surfers battled giant 65ft waves off a beach in Portugal as optimal weather conditions pushed huge walls of water towards the coast.

Several extreme surfers swam out this morning to dominate the towering waves off Praia do Norte beach in the region of Nazare, which is around 60 miles north of Lisbon. 

The weather forecast for the area yesterday predicted conditions which could lead to surfers taking on waves up to 100ft tall – equivalent to a 10-storey building.  

Big wave surfer Lucas Chumbo of Brazil rides a wave during a tow surfing session at Praia do Norte this morning in Nazare, Portugal

A surfer rides a large wave at Praia do Norte in Nazare, Portugal today. The weather forecast for the area yesterday predicted waves as big as a 10-storey building 

Chumbo of Brazil rides a wave during a tow surfing session at Praia do Norte today in Nazare, Portugal, which is around 60 miles north of Lisbon

Chumbo of Brazil rides a wave during a tow surfing session at Praia do Norte today in Nazare, Portugal, which is around 60 miles north of Lisbon

Chumbo of Brazil rides a wave at Praia do Norte beach this morning in Nazare, which is around 60 miles north of Lisbon  

Many of the surfers made the trip from their home countries especially for the event.  

‘This week is a very special week’, German big-wave surfer Sebastian Steudtner told rtbf.be. 

‘There is a storm coming to us from the Atlantic and which will undoubtedly give us the biggest waves ever. Pieces of surfing history will be written here in Nazaré’.  

Hundreds of surfing fans from all over Europe could be seen watching the day’s events on hills around the beach.  

Big wave surfer Kalani Lattanzi of Brazil rides a wave during a tow surfing session at Praia do Norte today in Nazare, Portugal

A surfer rides a big wave amid a giant swell at the Praia do Norte in Nazare today. Surfers came from across the globe to the Portuguese beach  

Big wave surfer Kalani Lattanzi of Brazil rides a wave as waves crash at his back during a tow surfing session at Praia do Norte today in Nazare, Portugal

Portuguese surfer Nic Van Rupp (left) crashes with Portuguese surfer Joao Guedes amid a giant swell at the Praia do Norte in Nazare today 

According to ouest-france, many of the spectators gathered together, failing to social distance or wear face masks. 

Co-ordinating health delegate for the western and northern region of Portugal, Jorge Nunes, told radio station TSF: ‘We very much regret the lack of civility of the people.  

‘There are hundreds of people there completely disrespecting the measures that are currently underway in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic.’ 

The mass gathering prompted authorities to lock off access to the beach’s lighthouse to stop too many people gathering close to each other. 

Big wave surfer Lucas Chumbo of Brazil rides a wave during a tow surfing session at Praia do Norte today in Nazare, Portugal

Big wave surfer Lucas Chumbo of Brazil rides a wave during a tow surfing session at Praia do Norte today in Nazare, Portugal

A surfer rides a big wave amid a giant swell at the Praia do Norte in Nazare today 

A surfer rides a large wave at Praia do Norte in Nazare, Portugal, which is around 60 miles north of Lisbon

The beach is optimal for surfing huge waves due to a geological phenomenon called the ‘Nazare Canyon’. 

The canyon is a 105-mile long and three-mile deep fault that runs along the bottom of the sea, which propels the swell of the Atlantic Ocean towards the coast. 

In 2017, Nazare became famous for helping Brazilian Rodrigo Koxa into the Guinness Book of World Records after he surfed a 79.9ft wave there. 

Earlier this year, Maya Gabeira, also from Brazil, took home the record for highest wave ever surfed by a woman for a 73.49ft roller.